Fluid-flow-controlling device



. ially therethrough as Patented Oct. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES S. MCCARTHY, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

FLUID-FLOW-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application led October 27, 1924. Serial No. 746,137.

This invention relates to devices for controlling the fluid low through the discharge ipe of an oil well.

It is the object of my invention to provide a device for controlling the flow of gas and oil from or through a well that will permit the desired flow of gas or oil under normal conditions and will automatically retard the flow under sudden excessive pressures whereby to maintain a steady flow through the discharge pipe at all times.

In the drawing I Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through a pipe structure embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a section on 2-2 ot Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I show at 1 the lower end of the discharge pipe of an oil well pumping system with a fixed element 2 screwed therein as at 3, this element having a passage 4 passing axshown and having a curvilinear cupped bottom surface 5.

Threaded on tothe lower end of fixed element 2 is a nipple 6 having a cap screwed on to its lower end, this 'cap 7 having an orifice 8 therein as shown.

At 9 I show a movable element having a conduit 10 passing axially therethrough, this conduit having a much less cross-sectional area than the passage 4 in the fixed element 2. Movable element 9 has a curvilinear top surface 11 adapted to engage curvilinear surface 5 in fixedelement 2, and is preferably in the form of an inverted truncated cone.

Formed upon the sides of movable element 9 and longitudinally thereof, are several vanes 12 adapted to engage cap 7 at their lower ends and in this manner support the movable element within the nipple 6, and slidably engaging the nipple 6 whereby to maintain the movable element in concentric relation thereto.

When a fixed element only is used at the bottom of the discharge pipe of an oil well it is a time consuming undertaking to change it when it becomes necessary to insert a new element because of the wearing away of the old element by the erosive efvect of the sand in the fluid passing therethrough.

By means of the adjustable element as herein described, the desired control of the well is secured and yet the erosive action of sand upon the element is almost eliminated.

Taking a flowing well, for instance, and

assuming that it is equipped in the usual way except that an adjustable element is inserted in the lower end of the discharge pipe is described, the action is somewhat as folows.

A head of gas in the surrounding oil sands suddenly blows into the well. This sudden influx of sand, oil and gas lifts the element 9 o of its seat on cap 7 and forces it into contact with the lower surface of fixed element 2 so that the only outlet for the mixture is through passage 10.

The increased pressure and reduced size of the passage increases the velocity of the mixture through the passage so that it enters the pipe 1 as a jet and efectually prevents plugging the lower end of pipe with sand, and maintains a substantially steady flow through pipe 1.

When the excessive pressure has become exhausted the element 9 drops back to the position shown so that the discharge to pipe 1 is around it instead of through it and con- 7 sequently erosion of element 9 only occurs during the periods of excessive gas pressure in the Well. The iixed element 2 controls the iow of the oil-sand mixture within ordinary limits of gas pressure when erosion is not great and is protected against the erosive action of themixture under excessive pressures by the adjustable element 9.-

The action of the device is similar on a pumped well with the added advantage that it greatly reduces the work required of the pump, and especially of the sucker rods because they are not pumping against the restricted assage in the element under normal con itions, it being understood that when the adjustable element is not used the fixed element must have a smaller passage suoli as is provided in the adjustable element.

It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of the invention, this disclosure is to be considered as illustrative only, and changes inform, construction and method of assembly and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

1. In well construction, a discharge pipe, an element of less diameter than said pipe mounted to slide freely therein and provided with a conduit passing longitudinally therethrough, and means for supporting said element in said pipe, said pipe and element having opposing surfaces formed thereon adapted to engage when said element is advanced relative to said pipe said element being gravity actuated into-spaced relation to said pipe whereby to normally maintain Vsaid opposing surfaces in spaced relation to each other.

2. In well construction, a discharge pipe, a fluid flow restricting element ixedly mounted therein, a freely movable element mounted therein below said lixed element and having a passage therethrough of less cross-sectional area than the said fixed element, the movable element being spaced a distance from said fixed element and of less external diameter than said pipe whereby to permit the passage of fluid around the same to said fixed element below a predetermined Huid pressure but actuated into contact with said ixed element by an excessv of fluid pressure.

3. In well construction, a discharge pipe, a fixed fluid flow restricting element therein, and an element having a passage therethrough of less cross-sectional area than said fixed element and less external diameter than said pipe slidably mounted in said pipe in axial alignment with said fixed element, a support for said slidable element, and means carried by said movable element for engaging said pipe and maintaining said axial alignment, said movable element being spaced a distance from said fixed element under normal fluid pressure but actuated into contact therewith under excessive fluid pressure.

CHARLES s. MCCARTHY. 

